Why did you have a C-section? - Page 3

[earthmama06]

My planned natural birth went horribly awry and ended in c/s.

Contractions started 3:00am, developed small leak in BOW around 5:00am. Discovered meconium staining around 6:00am. OB on call was not mine and directed me to the hospital immediately. Hospital was not the originally planned hosp because the OB ward was closed 1 month before EDD (original hosp was pro-natural birth, very supportive). Upon arrival was separated from DH so they could "confirm" that I was indeed in labor.

5 hours - still separated from DH! - and several vaginal exams & an ultra sound later, head nurse went on break (after she told me that often pregnant women think they are in labor and are actually just wetting themselves - I was ready to walk out of the hospital at that point!) and second nurse convinced OB that I was in labor and was admitted at 1:30pm.

When admitted, they demanded I remain in bed to "preserve as much fluid as possible" and was constantly monitored. Contractions became very intense and I became phsyically ill - vomiting, etc - and very lethargic, which worried DH. OB advised, and after resisting I finally agreed to, an IV & an epi, which was one of the most miserable experiences of my life. I was having extremely painful contractions 2-3 min apart and the nurse refused to help me sit up saying that I had to do it on my own. Not to mention they sent DH down the hall and around the corner to wait while this was done.

At 9:00pm I was only dialated to 3cm and only 75% effaced, but my energy had returned and I was recharged. At 10:00pm OB finally expressed concern that DS was in distress because of the meconnium staining and his heart rate was dipping to 80 with every contraction. OB wanted to do internal fetal monitoring to confirm DS heart rate. And all along the OB on call would speak to DH & I as if we were a couple of nut cases for wanting to discuss each decision and not just jumping on her band wagon - as if we would prefer a natural birth over a healthy baby!

At that point I was worried about my baby and I felt that the internal fetal monitoring would just prolong the inevitable, so I had my c/s at 11:41pm. DS had an APGAR of 9 at birth and I wasn't able to hold/bf ds until 6am due to my recovery.

Looking back, I wonder if it could have been different, but I know I will never know. I hope to have a VBAC next time around and will do everything I can to avoid a hospital birth - specially that hospital! :

[stafl]

Originally Posted by Amylcd

My first was an emergency. My daughter was a face presentation & stuck (her heart tones were dropping dramatically because of this. The doctor & nurses assumed her neck would be broken). Besides being bruised, swollen and unable to move her neck (not broken though, thankfully) the first couple days of life, she was otherwise fine.

My second was a repeat, which I couldn't have been happier with.

you do know this is the VBAC forum, don't you?

[~member~]

Originally Posted by stafl

you do know this is the VBAC forum, don't you?

Amylcd followed the rules and answered the OP. I think it is cruel to ask her such a question. Not all of us have been able to have a VBAC. Most of us tried and it just didn't happen. I see nothing wrong with with her posting in this forum.

[stafl]

Originally Posted by MamaInTheBoonies

Amylcd followed the rules and answered the OP. I think it is cruel to ask her such a question. Not all of us have been able to have a VBAC. Most of us tried and it just didn't happen. I see nothing wrong with with her posting in this forum.

I did not intend to be cruel. Her post sounded as though she planned a repeat cesarean, and was happy about it, which while not against the rules, is not really appropriate for this forum. My reply has nothing to do with those of you unable to have the vbac you wished for. My heart goes out to you, I know all too well how hard it is to greive the loss of the birth you wanted, when nobody else understands.

[slinginhipmama]

I voted failure to progress...

Here's my story.... With Ds #1 I wanted to go all natural, I planned for a water birth only to move mid way through my pregnancy and switch OBs. When I was 37 weeks pregnant I was told that I had gained too much weight (which was the truth I gained 90 lbs!!!) and that I needed to be induced for fear that my heart may fail! I was petrified so I went along with it. After 12 hrs of labor and 2 hrs pushing, which I come to find out later is very normal for first birth I asked for a c/section...Yes you read that last part correctly, I had no positive support to keep going so I had my first c/s. When I was pregnant with ds #2 I opted for a second c/s I thought I was making the right decision, wasn't the saying once a c/s always a c/s??? God was I uneducated!!!! Luckily I had two very healthy boys through all of this.

However, the next one WILL be a VBAC!!!!!! Yeah , I finally decided to get my head out of my @$$! And thanks to all the info and advice I've gotten from this message board and other threads I feel completely confident in my decision (which is a first).

[jemaco]

I voted other... my c/s was due to placenta previa.

[jaye]

Well I've had 2 for different reasons but I could only vote once so voted failure to progress - it was more inexperience, exhaustion, fear etc. I'd labored for 2 days, was fully dilated, pushed for a few hours, but ds wouldn't drop. In retrospect, I should have said, "it's 4 a.m., let's all take a nap and see what happens in a few hours" but ...that's not what I said! Had a c-section, incision became infected a few days later, ended up back in hospital, wound opened and had to heal open - excrutiatingly painful dressing changes twice a day for a month, tons of anti-biotics, raging thrush in my milk ducts etc etc.

2nd pg I was determined to have VBAC, miscarried at 17 weeks.

3rd pg, I was determined to have VBAC, pg with twins, developed cholestasis at 36weeks, md wanted to induce at 37 weeks but was nervous about amt. of pressure on previous c-section area so had another c-section. no problems with recovery.

wish things had been different but I'm done dwelling on the "what-if's".

[Karah R]

I had vaginal births with my first two children and had a c-section with my third due to his position--and as I think someone else mentioned here, my son was moving between breech, transverse, and other positions. I feel like I did everything in my power to try to get him to move into a more favorable position for delivery, including a failed version attempt, stretches, and visiting a chiropractor to have the Webster Technique for turning breech babies. (DS would move around like crazy after the chiro visits and I would think he was going to move, but then he'd settle back down and stay where he was, LOL.

While on one hand I was definitely very disappointed when I learned that c-sec would truly be the way I'd have to go (before we knew about his positioning, I'd made plans to reach down and catch DS as he was born), I have to say that since I researched c-sec birth plans for moms who wanted to make the experience as hands-on as possible, it went about as well as it could have. My birth plan was followed (arms not strapped down, the sterile drape was just rested on my chest and not draped 3 feet up, and I held a mirror to watch his birth while DH took pictures, among other things), and for that I am thankful-I was able to participate as much as one can on a c-sec delivery. But the recovery absolutely SUCKED, between the level of pain I experienced and the pain medication that made me all foggy. DH and I may have one more child in the next few years, and I would be an excellent VBAC candidate so if and when that time comes that we have one last child, I am excited at the thought of being able to complete my family with a vaginal delivery.

I'm just checking out this board because I want to gather as much information as possible to make that VBAC happen if and when the time comes-and it should be able to happen between my successful vaginal births before and my doc and hospital being very supportive of VBAC.

[splash]

Jean went to 43 weeks (with a timed conception, so there is no doubt when her EDD was) with nothing... not dilated, and baby's head still floating. Membranes stripped several times, all the "home remedies" possible, and still no labor.
Our midwife was discharging her if she was not in hard labor by 10 am thursday. I, at this point, was very distrustful of the midwife and her decisions. I convinced Jean to see another midwife, who immediately pushed for a section. We went to the hospital Wednesday evening to be completely checked out... they put his weight around 12 pounds, and since he was still floating, they did not think he could get down there.
Jean really pushed for an induction, and the midwife and OB told her she had less than a 50% chance of a live birth if she was induced, and almost no chance of them both being unharmed. They also refused to do it at that hospital because the doctor was convinced (and although I believe the vast majority of cesareans are unnecessary, I completely believed her doctor in saying this one was needed) that there would be a bad outcome.
So, after many tears, and the OB promising that Jean could throw something large and heavy at her if the baby emerged under 9 lbs, she consented to a section.
He came out just after one on Thursday morning weighing 11 lbs 7 oz, and after examining his placenta the OB is convinced he would not have survived a vaginal birth, and if not born within the next few days his placenta would have ceased functioning and he would have been a stillborn baby. As it is she thinks he lost weight in utero because his placenta was not functioning at speed.
And the wonderful wonderful OB that we had said she completely supports VBACs and would be willing to "sign off" on a future pg for her to deliver at the BC, as long as she has routine OB care and u/ss, and she delivers by 39 weeks. Not perfect, but not bad!

[ruby slippers]

what is SPD symphsis pubis dysfunction? Just curious as i too had terrible hip pain but no belly pain during labor.

[PaytonsMom]

Another "Failure to Progress" (whatever) and also becasue I didn't do my research on inductions and what that meant. Just thought I could labor and deliver without any problems- just my body needed a little help to get started.

8 days past my EDD had an u/s done and found that amniotic fluid was low but not too low to admit me right away. Went home and was told to come back in the following evening to start the induction.

Checked in Friday night and got cervidil. I was at 1cm but not effaced at all. Got the fetal monitor strapped to my belly and had an IV started. That night I was able to sleep. I wasn't contracting at all and my water was still in tact. Baby's heart rate dropped off here and there but the monitor also was slidding around. Night nurse was a dim wit.

In the morning I met the doc who was on duty to deliver babies that day. And what do ya know- it was the ONE doc in the practice that I hated when I met him during pg checks. NO bedside manner at all. :

Got pitocin at 9 and doc broke my water at 10. It was green. By noon I was fighting the contractions so my hubby told me to take some drugs. I unwillingly agreed. Cervical check at 12- I was 4 cm, 75% effaced. They then put an internal monitor on my baby and monitored him closer because of the merc. Check again at 2- no progress. Doc started calling the anestesiologist in and starting prepping for a c-section. But I had NOT said yes yet!! I screamed at him but he was a jerk.

Finally shortly after 3, hubby convinced me that this was the best route. I was still fighting the contractions. What I would have done for a helpful labor coach!! So I concented.

I was still crying as they wheeled me into the OR. And I was still contractiong. Guess I thought that if I was made to have a c-section the contractions would stop. Sobbed as they gave me an epidural. I just felt so alone and like such a failure.

My son was born at 4:07 pm - 7lbs 15 oz. I wouldn't trade the world for him now, but I still feel like I failed him and failed me in not having the "hollywood birth" I had dreamed of.

I was told at my 6 week apointment Post Partum that when I was pg with #2 they'd schedule a c-section the last check-up. Yeah. Great. Thanks for having faith in me!! Not going back to THAT practice!

I've commited myself to trying for a VBAC with the next child (TTC in February) and darn it!! I'm educated now- I WILL do it!!

[ZachsMommy]

All through my pregnancy I measured way far ahead. Like at 26 weeks I measured 33 weeks and at 33 weeks I measured 39 weeks. At 39 I measured 44. So at 39 weeks exactly I had an ultrasound to see how big the baby was. It(because he was a surprise) was measuring at 9 lbs 8 oz. So my Dr. suggested since I was so damn uncomfortable, not sleeping and generally exhausted from carrying my elephant around that we schedule an induction at 40 weeks if I didn't go in by myself.

At 40w 1 day I was admitted into the hospital. The evening prior I had been given a catheter of sorts to keep in me as I was not dialated at all so they wanted to manually stimulate my cervix. I got the cervadil at 7 am and contracted every 5 minutes the entire day. I kept saying that I was like Rachel on Friends as all the other labouring mama's were coming in and out of the induction room and I was stuck there watching and envying them. They checked me at 9 that night and I was at 1 cm : At 10:30 that evening my Dr gave me a shot of morphine and told me to rest the night and the next morning they would give me the pitocin to get things going. I sent my DH and mom and sis home to get some much-needed rest

A half hour later I kept getting up to go pee and I felt like I was leaking all the time. I thought - Gee if this is what morphine does to you then I don't want it ever again!! At 11:10 my water broke as I was going to the washroom. Called hubby back, and was taken to my room to labour there with an epidural(I kinda lost it and threatened them and told them to give me drugs NOW) and a pitocin drip. At 7 the next morning they checked me - I was contracting every 2 minutes for 2 minutes - I was at 2 cm. :

So they deemed it Failure to Progress and I was taken to the operating room for my c-section and had my baby boy!! He was 10 lbs 3 oz and 22 1/4 in long. I am a smallish person (5'2" and around 140 lbs pre-baby) and they said had I gone to 42 weeks(which was predicted as I had no progression on my own) I would have probably not been able to naturally birth an 11 lber on my own anyways and would have probably had a c-section anyways

I had read a ton of birth stories prior to my delivery and one thing that I learned was to expect the unexpected and to not go into the delivery with any expectations. And I didn't feel like a failure because I didn't put too much emphasis on a specific type or style of delivery. My goal was to have a happy healthy baby in the end and I did This time I will do the same(with a few hopefuls but not must-haves) as I realize that the birth is so very low in the grande scheme of things as it's only one day and raising my child(ren) is my priority for the rest of my life.

[stafl]

Originally Posted by ZachsMommy

I am a smallish person (5'2" and around 140 lbs pre-baby) and they said had I gone to 42 weeks(which was predicted as I had no progression on my own) I would have probably not been able to naturally birth an 11 lber on my own anyways and would have probably had a c-section anyways

I had read a ton of birth stories prior to my delivery and one thing that I learned was to expect the unexpected and to not go into the delivery with any expectations. And I didn't feel like a failure because I didn't put too much emphasis on a specific type or style of delivery. My goal was to have a happy healthy baby in the end and I did This time I will do the same(with a few hopefuls but not must-haves) as I realize that the birth is so very low in the grande scheme of things as it's only one day and raising my child(ren) is my priority for the rest of my life.

My MIL birthed four eleven pound babies vaginally, and she's just shy of five feet tall and very petite. Lots of petite women give birth to huge babies vaginally, it's not the end of the world that most docs would have you believe. Our pelvises are meant to open up and let our babies out. You never will know what you are capable of if you never give it a try. Many women, especially here at mdc, and in the VBAC forum here in particular, choose to trust their bodies natural ability to give birth, and question everything their doctors tell them, do their own research and make up their own minds about what is and what is not possible. And many more of us have been and still are very hurt by people who say things along the lines of "all that matters is a healthy baby" because it invalidates our feelings, whatever they might be. Childbirth is one memory you will live with the rest of your life. Many of us have been traumatized by what happened during the births of our children. Many of us have made a conscious decision to have a "specific type of birth" because we have done our research and we know that is safest and best for ourselves and our babies. We figured out what birth should be, and then we made it happen. That's why this is the VBAC forum, not the "I had a cesarean and I don't care if I ever give birth vaginally" forum.

[ZachsMommy]

Originally Posted by stafl

And many more of us have been and still are very hurt by people who say things along the lines of "all that matters is a healthy baby" because it invalidates our feelings, whatever they might be.

I did not realize that I was supposed to have such intense feelings as everyone else on how horrible a c-section is in order to reply to the OPers question "Why did you have a C-section?" AND I didn't know that while I am hoping to attempt a VBAC this time that I was to put all my eggs in that basket and then confess what a failure I was that I didn't do it if I can't(for whatever reason) I also will remember not to say that I was happy to have a healthy baby in the end no matter what because that invalidates your feelings. I also would like to say that I did not say that you are not allowed to feel the way you do - I was stating how I felt about my birth experience.

Originally Posted by stafl

Childbirth is one memory you will live with the rest of your life. Many of us have been traumatized by what happened during the births of our children. Many of us have made a conscious decision to have a "specific type of birth" because we have done our research and we know that is safest and best for ourselves and our babies. We figured out what birth should be, and then we made it happen. That's why this is the VBAC forum, not the "I had a cesarean and I don't care if I ever give birth vaginally" forum.

I never said that I don't care if I ever give birth vaginally - I said that I know not to set my expectations to a limit that could potentially traumatize myself and my memories of birthing my child. I want to be able to move on from my birthing experience with healthy baby without pressuring myself further on what I did or did not do.

FWIW - I DO plan to attempt a VBAC with this DC. I choose to educate myself and go in knowing all my options but refuse to build myself up to it to be let down and let myself believe that I am a failure when I'm not if I do not get my VBAC.

I am sorry you feel the way you do about your birth(s) but because I don't hold the same feelings as you does not mean I am not allowed to express them here in the VBAC forum. Please understand that I chose to take with me what I wanted to about my birth and having my DChildren born happy and healthy IS the most important thing to me.

[dogmama]

I had the only ob in town who will deliver breech babies, if they are in the right position. One foot up and one foot down is not the right position! Since we'd tried literally everything to get this baby to turn, I felt a degree of acceptance. It was the most terrifying experience of my life, and the instant she was born it was the most wonderful experience of my life.
Now pg with #2, there isn't a hospital in the area that "allows" vbac, and the atmosphere is so hostile to midwives that none of them will attend hbac's. At least the first time around I truly believed that the surgery was necessary. Now the only way to avoid being forced into another surgery is if I sneeze hard and the baby pops out. That can happen, right? :LOL

[mamaGjr]

Originally Posted by stafl

My MIL birthed four eleven pound babies vaginally, and she's just shy of five feet tall and very petite. Lots of petite women give birth to huge babies vaginally, it's not the end of the world that most docs would have you believe. Our pelvises are meant to open up and let our babies out. You never will know what you are capable of if you never give it a try. Many women, especially here at mdc, and in the VBAC forum here in particular, choose to trust their bodies natural ability to give birth, and question everything their doctors tell them, do their own research and make up their own minds about what is and what is not possible. And many more of us have been and still are very hurt by people who say things along the lines of "all that matters is a healthy baby" because it invalidates our feelings, whatever they might be. Childbirth is one memory you will live with the rest of your life. Many of us have been traumatized by what happened during the births of our children. Many of us have made a conscious decision to have a "specific type of birth" because we have done our research and we know that is safest and best for ourselves and our babies. We figured out what birth should be, and then we made it happen. That's why this is the VBAC forum, not the "I had a cesarean and I don't care if I ever give birth vaginally" forum.

well thanks for the info on your MIL .great inspiration
I thought the rest of your post was a bit harsh though.
While most of us want to VBAC the resources seem to be dwindling. Hopefully we can support all who want to VBAC .or even inspire those who never really thought about it
thanks

[mamaGjr]

Originally Posted by ZachsMommy

I did not realize that I was supposed to have such intense feelings as everyone else on how horrible a c-section is in order to reply to the OPers question "Why did you have a C-section?" AND I didn't know that while I am hoping to attempt a VBAC this time that I was to put all my eggs in that basket and then confess what a failure I was that I didn't do it if I can't(for whatever reason) I also will remember not to say that I was happy to have a healthy baby in the end no matter what because that invalidates your feelings. I also would like to say that I did not say that you are not allowed to feel the way you do - I was stating how I felt about my birth experience.



I never said that I don't care if I ever give birth vaginally - I said that I know not to set my expectations to a limit that could potentially traumatize myself and my memories of birthing my child. I want to be able to move on from my birthing experience with healthy baby without pressuring myself further on what I did or did not do.

FWIW - I DO plan to attempt a VBAC with this DC. I choose to educate myself and go in knowing all my options but refuse to build myself up to it to be let down and let myself believe that I am a failure when I'm not if I do not get my VBAC.

I am sorry you feel the way you do about your birth(s) but because I don't hold the same feelings as you does not mean I am not allowed to express them here in the VBAC forum. Please understand that I chose to take with me what I wanted to about my birth and having my DChildren born happy and healthy IS the most important thing to me.

(((((( ))))))))))

[stafl]

Originally Posted by ZachsMommy

FWIW - I DO plan to attempt a VBAC with this DC. I choose to educate myself and go in knowing all my options but refuse to build myself up to it to be let down and let myself believe that I am a failure when I'm not if I do not get my VBAC.

Don't plan to "attempt a VBAC" - make it happen! You can do it, no matter how big your baby is. No matter what nonsense your doctor might give you. No matter how long it takes you to progress. The biggest obstacle in having a vbac is standard medical procedures and opinions regarding birth. Educate yourself. Don't blindly accept what your doctor tells you, look it up, read the information available on both sides of every issue, then find the studies themselves and read them, too.

I'm not real sure why so many people have joined mdc in the past month only to post in this one forum. You don't know me, or my story. I've been here a long time and everyone else knows exactly where I'm coming from. If I seem a bit harsh it's because of how passionate I am about this subject. If you all really want a vbac, you gotta start by asking the right questions. You gotta get your medical records, read them, understand them, and question everything in them. A vbac isn't something you can just go to a hospital and do, at least not the hospitals around here, not with the ob's around here anyway. You can't waltz into a hospital that has a 40% c/s rate and expect to vbac, it ain't gonna happen. It's something you gotta really feel strongly about, and you have to know exactly what you want and why you want it that way. And yes, it's usually something you have to fight for. No, it doesn't always work out, even given the right kind of preparation and mindset, but it can't work out at all if you blindly believe a doctor whose first concern is his malpractice insurance and not your own well-being, a doctor who tells you your baby is too big, that your body is broken or flawed in some way, or that you can't gestate longer than 41 weeks.


dogmama - you can have that vbac, you may not be asking the right midwives, or looking in the right places. No, if the hospitals won't support your right to birth how you see fit, you are less likely to find a CNM who will attend a vbac. That doesn't rule out hbac for you, though. Have you looked into other options? UC? travelling? There are always other options. You gotta do what's best for you given your situation. vbac is never impossible, though. There are always other options available if you look hard enough for them.

[pycelan]

Boy...am I late responding to these questions. originally said that pelvic bones were not wide enough for baby to go through. Unfortunately, this really is the case. When DS was being born, his head was caught on my pelvic bones on all sides. The trauma was bad enough that they had to put water back up into my canal to force him back up and out before he really got wedged in tight. I have talked for hours with my doctor, read the chart, everything. When I was pregnant with dd, we even measured my pelvic bones using ultrasound, just to check (I am a nurse...had a few connections ). DD would not have fit either.
Thank you for the thoughts. I am OK with the sections. They have given me two....hopefully three soon...beautiful children. The key is to enjoy YOUR experience...

[AnditheBee]

pycelan: Given my own birth experience, and yours, it makes me wonder...is there some problem in some deliveries that prevents the opening of the pelvic bones? Even if your pelvis is "normally" too small to allow a baby to squeeze through, there are areas of the pelvis that are meant to loosen and stretch during birth to make the canal wider to allow birth to happen. Perhaps sometimes a woman lacks the proper hormone or something to make this happen?? I'm just theorizing...it is very rare that a woman's pelvis is just plain too small if the bones are opening properly. Personally, while I was pushing, I felt that my bones were not opening at all--I could feel my daughter pressing on them when I pushed through the contractions. It's at least possible. It's good that you are at peace with your birth experiences.